The Gucci story will be forever linked to the city of London. It was here at the prestigious Savoy Hotel that a young Guccio Gucci worked as a porter handling the luggage and bags of wealthy guests at the turn of the twentieth century. A spark was ignited in him that would shape the trajectory of fine leather goods and indeed inform all fashion brands for the next hundred years.
In 1921 Guccio went on to start his own leather goods & leather workshop in Florence, Italy, with a line in travel goods and saddlery. In fact, this history is something that is still evident and celebrated to this day. The famous red and green web stripe that has become one of Gucci’s own signature patterns is a callback to the equestrian beginnings of this now all-conquering fashion house.
During the 1930s Gucci began to produce handbags for the elite women of Europe. However, it wasn’t until 1947 and the release of their Bamboo Bag that this previously anonymous and overlooked accessory began its journey into a fashion icon.
Here is a past and present collection of some of the Gucci greats for the handbag world.
The Bamboo 1947
It is no exaggeration to suggest that The Bamboo 1947 is where it all began. Its production was a response to the shortage of materials in a post-war world and demonstrated Gucci’s dedication to crafting grace and function in the most striking way. As leather and metal were tightly rationed during this period, Gucci pivoted to using bamboo imported for Japan in an innovative way. It was softened over an open flame and crafted into the wonderful-curved handles that are now instantly recognisable. As soon as luminaries such as Ingrid Bergman adopted The Bamboo as their own accessory of choice, its place was cemented as an icon with cross-generational appeal that would run for decades into the future. Its form may have been adapted over the years from small satchels to larger holdalls, but the distinctive bamboo handles remain testament to how this type of pioneering style never goes out of fashion. Estimated prices are now around the £2500 to £4000 point.
Jackie 1961
There are a few occasions when a timeless fashion accessory creates a link with a fashion icon. When this happens, the result is a cultural landmark that will be referred to for decades to come. Originally produced under the rather less inspiring name of G1244, this bag was jettisoned into the public consciousness when Jackie Kennedy was pictured with it during the early part of the 1960s. It holds a beautifully simple yet elegant silhouette, using a unique half-moon shape on top of a flat base, all tied together with that piston-lock closure fixing. It is believed that Mrs Kennedy so admired the bag that she once bought six in a single shopping trip, acting as the perfect advertisement for its versatility from the office to errands and evening events.
Allesandro Michele revived the design in 2020 as the Jackie 1961 with all new pastel tones and bolder hues. Now it can be found across the shoulder of fashion figures such as Dakota Johnson and Harry Styles to guarantee its dynamic relevance for many more generations to come. Expected prices are around £3000 to £3500.
Ophidia
The Ophidia name is derived from the wonderfully dramatic Gucci theme of the serpent, with a slightly muted use, for this collection released in 2018. A familiar green-red-green web stripe and gold double-G hardware deliver a uniform look and feel to every format available. There are compact crossbody bags and belt bags for evening use alongside larger round shoulder versions and totes that can take the look from day to night, and back again, in style. With an undoubted nod to the high glamour of the 1970s aligned with the versatility and functionality of a modern collection, Ophidia is proving to be quite the modern classic. Prices range from around £800 to £1500 across the options.
The Horsebit 1955
There has been a revival of mid-century themes and looks across the design and fashion worlds in recent times and this handbag is a landmark piece among them. When it first appeared in 1955, it was one of the earliest models to employ the Horsebit detail of a double ring and bar motif. And the inspiration from decades of bridle hardware is clear across the entire design. The 2020 reissue remained faithful to the original from an exterior view, with clever adaptations added for proportions and interior compartments to suit modern requirements and lifestyles. An adjustable shoulder strap delivers in the Gucci element of high-end versatility to ensure that The Horsebit remains valued as much for usefulness as it does for its power to complete an outfit. As it is a somewhat subtler version of the Gucci look, it has been spotted on several figures that are drawn to this discreet elegance, such as Lana Del Ray, Sienna Miller and Elle Fanning. Prices for The Horsebit are around £1500 to £2500.
Giglio
Giglio represents one of the most recent Gucci handbags, created as part of the 2025 Resort collection that forges a new path for the second half of the decade. Many are interpreting it as a homage to the brand’s innovative beginnings with brand new design that doesn’t rely on classic structures. It is very much a modern tote in practicality as well as aesthetics, favouring clean lines and functional proportions. The GG canvas has also been refreshed with eye-catching leather trims and floral-inspired detailing that evokes a light femininity supported by the strength of its purpose. Early reactions suggest that in looking ahead instead of the legacy of what came before it, Giglio has the potential to rank amongst the Gucci greats once time has furnished it with more familiarity. Prices for the Giglio are around £2000 to £3000.
As Gucci drives forward in 2025, it does so powered by the prestige of a century of innovation and recognition. Its commitment to blazing new trails for the handbag as an iconic fashion must-have is a key touchpoint in the industry – one that carefully maintains its course from the world of artisanal Florence to the uncharted waters of a fashion future.
